After a long break, this year the Gozo Youth F. A. took part in the Malta Youth Football Ass. League with an under 14 team, the Gozo Stars.  The team played in Section C/3 with six other teams from different villages in Malta.

A squad of players who come from different teams taking part in the U/16 and U/13 leagues of the Gozo Youth F.A. was picked by coach Alex Spiteri early during the Summer 2007. These were, Angelo Brignoli, Matthew Muscat, Luke Meilaq, Jonathan Said (Captain), Dylan Bellotti, Robert Vassallo, Jason Vella, Kevin Farrugia, Antoine Camilleri, Steve Dimech, Ian Xuereb, Philip Mizzi, Mick Portelli, Daniel Portelli, Chris Debono, Larry Debono, Jason Pace and Josiah Buttigieg.  Alex had the necessary experience and knew well what to find in such leagues because he was in charge of the youth teams which competed in the Malta Y.F.A. leagues when Gozo took part in previous years.

The players who made up the squad met once and even twice a week to prepare for the matches.  Sacrifice was a must.  They trained with their village team and had to do their training with the Gozo Squad.  This apart from their school work which I am glad to say they never missed.

The results speak for themselves.  They won all matches but one which they drew.  They scored 68 goals and conceded only 5.  All matches were played in Malta, foreign soil for our boys.  This meant that they had to travel to Malta for every match, leaving their homes 3 hours or so before the start of the match and arriving back home some two hours after the game.  Results and scorers were:

Vs Ghaxaq 8-0.  Jason Pace, Steve Dimech (3), Ian Xuereb (2), Kevin Farrugia and Chris Debono.

Vs Marsaxlokk 3-1. Steve Dimech (2), Ian Xuereb.

Vs Santa Lucia 10-1. Ian Xuereb (3), Kevin Farrugia (2), Steve Dimech (2), Antoine Camilleri (2), Philip Mizzi.

Vs Fgura 8-0. Steve Dimech (3), Philip Mizzi (2), Antoine Camilleri (2), Ian Xuereb.

Vs Attard 2-1. Steve Dimech and Kevin Farrugia.

Vs Ghaxaq 13-0. Antoine Camilleri (3), Kevin Farrugia (2), Steve Dimech (2), Larry Debono (2),  Robert Vassallo, Jonathan Said, Ian Xuereb, Chris Debono.

Vs Santa Lucia 9-0. Antoine Camilleri (4), Ian Xuereb (3), Kevin farrugia, Robert Vassallo.

Vs Sta. Venera 2-2. Steve Dimech and Jonathan Said.

Vs Fgura 5-0. Steve Dimech (2), Kevin Farrugia, Chris Debono, Ian Xuereb.

Vs Marsaxlokk 1-0. Steve Dimech.

Vs Attard 3-0. Steve Dimech, Ian Xuereb, Chris Debono.

Vs Sta. Venera 4-0. Steve Dimech (2), Kevin Farrugia, Chris Debono.

Scorers with their respective total of goals were:

Steve Dimech 20, Ian Xuereb 13, Antoine Camilleri 11, Kevin Farrugia 9, Chris Debono 5, Philip Mizzi 3, Larry Debono 2, Rober Vassallo 2, Jonathan Said 2, Jason Pace 1.

Jonathan Said was chosen as the Best Player of the team, Kevin Farrugia as the most Promising and Ian Xuereb as the most Dedicated.  All the Players did their best and deserved a big praise.  To show its appreciation, the Gozo Y.F.A took this team for an U/15 tournament in Costa Brava Spain during the Easter Holidays, where I am glad to say they finished fourth from 16 teams from different countries.

In the K.O. tournament, the Good Causes Cup, which was organised by the M.Y.F.A. to decide the Under 14 team champion, Gozo Stars won against Marsa (champions of Section C 2 with maximum points,) 2-1, with goals from Kevin Farrugia and Ian Xuereb. Gozo deserved to win because they were the better team throughout the 60 minutes.  But luck was not on their side in the Semi Final games against Floriana, (the Section A team) and they lost 2-1.  Gozo Stars did very well and good have easily won if they took their chances especially during the first half.  They scored first through Ian Xuereb early in the second half, but Floriana scored immediately after.  Gozo conceded the goal which put them out of the competition only four minutes from time.  Important to note that Floriana goalkeeper was the man of the match with some fantastic saves.

Saviour Bajada

    Il-Gozo Youth F.A. ghar-raba’ darba fl-istorja qasira taghha, hadet sehem f’Tournament tal-football barra minn Malta.  Din is-sena marret fi Spanja, sewwa sew f’Costa Brava, Barcellona, bit-tim li qed jiehu sehem fil-lig ta’ taht l-14 il-sena fil-M.F.A.  Billi r-regolament fi Spanja jghidu li plejers li twieldu fis-snin 1993/94 m’humiex taht l-14 il-sena, izda taht il-15 il-sena, iddecidejna li nikkompetu fit-Tournament ta’ taht il-15 il-sena.  It-Tournament sar fuq 3 ijiem, jigifieri il-gimgha, is-sibt u il-Hadd 21, 22 u 23 ta’ Marzu rispettivament, fil-vaganzi tal-Ghid.  Barra dan, ta’ min isemmi li fi Spanja, fl-istess post waqt l-istess tournament ta’ taht il-15 il-sena, kienu qed isiru ‘Tournaments’ ohra ta’ taht iz-17 il-sena, 13 il-sena, 11 il-sena, u ohrajn ghall-kbar kemm irgiel kif ukoll tfajliet rispettivament.

    Skwadra ta’ 16 il-plejer halliet Malta fl-20 ta’ Marzu kmieni filghodu b’titjira diretta lejn Girona.  It-tim kien immexi mill-kowc Alex Spiteri.  Enzo Dimech kien jirreprezenta l-Genituri tat-tfal u Saviour Bajada, il-kaxxier tal-G.Y.F.A. mexxa l-grupp.  Dan tal-ahhar kien responsabbli wkoll mill-organizzazjoni tal-mawra.

   Il-Gimgha 21 ta’ Marzu, il-grupp ha sehem fic-cerimonja tal-ftuh.  Ic-cerimonja kienet sabiha ferm u fiha hadu sehem il-plejers u ufficcjali kollha.  Din saret f’Ruidarenes, rahal zghir tipiku Spanjol.  Saret ‘March past’ bl-iskwadri jimxu wara l-bandiera tal-pajjizi rispettivi taghhom, u meta waslu fil-‘grounds’ tal-post, indaqq l-innu ta’ kull pajjiz raprezentat.  Kien moment tassew kommoventi li jibqa’ stampat f’mohhna dak il-waqt li smajna l-innu Malti ma’ innijiet ohra ta’ pajjizi kbar, bhal Spanja, Franza, Svizzera, Stati Uniti, Italja, Fillandja, Estonja, Skozja u Ingilterra.

    Dritt wara, fuq wiehed miz-zewg  ‘pitches’ ta’ Ruidarenes laghabna l-ewwel loghba taghna ma’ tim minn Spanja, F.C. Blanca Subur u rbahna 2-1. b’gowlijiet ta’ Ian Xuereb u Steve Dimech.  Il-loghba kienet bilan`jata hafna bl-iskor ikun 0-0 wara l-ewwel taqsima.  Konna ahna li skurjajna u zidna l-iskor ghall-2-0.  Blanca Subur skurjaw tard fil-partita izda kien tard wisq biex igibu d-draw.

   Hames sieghat wara, fl-istess post laghabna t-tieni loghba u gejna draw 1-1 ma’ tim minn Skozja, Crosskeys B.C. Kienet partita li stajna rbahna facilment, specjalment fl-ewwel taqsima li kienet dominata mit-tim taghna.  Fit-tieni taqsima ghajjejna xi ftit u qlajna l-gowl tad-draw, u stajna tlifna.  It-tim oppost laghab loghba hajja, b’dahliet b’sahhithom hafna li fixkluna mhux ftit.  Hawn dehret in-nuqqas ta’ esperjenza u forsi xi ftit ukoll l-‘inferiority complex’ tal-plejers taghna.

   L-ghada 22 ta’ Marzu kellna t-tielet u l-ahhar loghba tal-grupp.  Kien imiss A.S.D. Savorelli minn Milan fl-Italja u rnexxielna nirbhu 2-0, b’gowlijiet ta’ Philip Mizzi dirett minn ‘corner’ fl-ewwel taqsima u gowl ta’ Steve Dimech fit-tieni taqsima rispettivament.  Din il-loghba ntlaghbet fuq ‘pitch’ sintetiku fi Blanes Aguido, fir-rahal ta’ Blanes, madwar nofs siegha boghod bil-‘coach’ mill-hotel f’Santa Susanna fejn konna qed noqghodu.  B,dan ir-rizultat spiccajna l-ewwel fil-klassifika ta’ grupp B b.7 punti, 5 gowlijiet favur u 2 kontra.  B’hekk ghaddejna ghall-Q/F biex nilghabu mat-tim li spicca t-tieni fi grupp D.

   IL-Hadd filghodu dritt wara l-quddiesa tal-Ghid il-Kbir, bqajna sejrin fil-grownd ta’ Blanes Aguido u hemm laghabna l-ahjar loghba taghna u rbahna 3-1 mat-tim Spanjol F.C. Vilanova.  Sa ftit minuti qqbel il-loghba kienet niezla x-xita qawwija tant li l-loghba ta’ qabilna ma ntlaghbietx.  Pero imbaghad harget ix-xemx u l-‘pitch’ deher ferm tajjeb.  Il-plejers taghna malajr draw il-kundizzjonijiet u skurjaw l-ewwel gowl li gie minn Ian Xuereb.  Bqajna nikkontrollaw il-loghba matul l-ewwel perjodu, izda wara l-mistrieh, l-isponjoli hasduna bil-gowl tad-draw.  It-tim taghna stinka u rega’ mar minn fuq b’gowl sabih ta’ Christian Debono u ftit wara ‘captain’ taghna Johnatan Said isigilla r-rebha b’gowl minn penalty.  B’hekk ghaddejna ghas-‘semi-finals’.

   Wara din il-loghba kellna nivvjaggaw lejn il-‘hotel’, hadna xi haga tal-ikel u rhajna hrabna lejn grawnd iehor, din id-darba lejn it-tieni ‘pitch’ tal-haxix ta’ Ruidarenes.  Hemm sibna xita qawwija u kesha tremenda tant li hsibna li l-log]ba setghet ma tintlabx.  It-tim oppost kien issa minn Swizzerland, F.C. Dubendorf.  Il-plejers ta’ din it-tim kienu akbar minna fl-istatura izda mhux wisq ahjar fit-teknika.  Laghabna taht xita kontinwa li affettwat ferm lit-tim taghna li mhux imdorri jilghab f’dawn il-kundizzjonijiet u qlajna erba’ gowlijiet kollha tort taghna.  Stajna skurjajna tnejn jew tlett gowls, izda dehret wisq ovvja li x-xita telfitna fix-xutt ahhari.  Kumment ta’ wiehed mill-genituri tal-plejers Svizzeri waqt il-loghba kien li x-xita ghenithom hafna kontra tim gej mill-gzejjer tax-xemx.  Tlieta mill-gowls gew matul l-ewwel taqsima.

  Wara l-loghba l-plejers taghna, imxarrbin ghasra, grew lejn id-‘dressing-rooms’.  Kellna problema ghax iz-zewg gerijiet li kellna kienu imxarrbin u mahmugin bit-tajn.  Tkellmina mall-organizzaturi u qbilna li ghas-sahha tal-plejers kien ikun jaqblilna li l-loghba ghat-tielet u raba’ post li kellha ssir siegha wara ma issirx.  Ghalhekk bqajna sejrin dritt fil-‘hotel’ taghna fejn il-plejers libsu hwejjeg shan.  Spiccajna fuq nota ftit mhux mixtieqa, izda konna kuntenti ferm li qtajna figura tajba f’Tournament’ internazzjonali fejn il-plejers kellhom l-esperjenza sportiva kontra ohrajn minn pajjizi ferm akbar minn taghna.

   Barra l-futbol, tajjeb li nsemmu li il-kontingent kellu zjarat interessanti u ukoll edukattivi f’postijiet ta’ interess.

    Is-Sibt, 22 ta’ Marzu morna nofs ta’ nhar fit-tieni l-akbar belt ta’ Spanja, Barcellona fejn fost l-ohrajn kellna x-xorti li nidhlu fl-‘istadium’ maestuz ta’ Camp Nou, il-ground ta’ Barcellona Football Team.  Zorna u rajna fejn jintlaghab il-football, il-‘press-box’, il-muzew kollu storja u unuri tat-tim famuz ta’ Barcellona u sintendi dhalna ukoll fil-hanut tal-istess ‘club’. Zorna wkoll il-villagg Olimpiku fejn kienu saru d-dixxiplini sportivi olimpici fis-sena 1992 u tajna titwila ukoll il-knisja tas-Sagra Familja li mhemmx li titlesta’. Ma naqsitx imbaghad li jkollna waqfa ftit twila qrib it-triq imbolu ta’ Barcellona, ir-Ramblas.

    It-tnejn kellna l-ahhar jum fi Spanja u ahna flimkien morna niddevertu fit-Theme Park ta’ Port Aventura.  It-tfal ma xebghux iduru u jigru minn ‘Roller Coaster’ ghall-ohra u r-‘Rides’ sbieh ohra li hemm f’dan il-post ta’ divertiment. Xi uhudd ghazlu imbaghad li barra dawn, jidhlu jaraw s-‘shows’ tassew sbieh li kien hemm.  Il-gurnata giet fi tmiema malajr izda ahna ma kellniex aptit nohorgu minn hemm biex giet fi tmiema l-avventura taghna.

   Irnexxielna nghaddu hames t’ijiem sbieh, mimlija football, mistrieh u divertiment preparati tassew tajjeb mill-organizzaturi.  Grazzi hafna lill-Gozo Football Ass., u Gozo Youth F.A. tal-ghajnuna.

Group B.  Gozo 2 - 1 (0 - 0) F.C. Blanca Subur. (Esp). Ian Xuereb u Steve Dimech.

                Gozo 1 - 1 (1 - 0) Crosskeys B.C. (Sco). Steve Dimech.

                Gozo 2 - 0 (1 - 0) ASD Savorelli (IT).Philip Mizzi u Steve Dimech.

Q/F.         Gozo 3 - 1 (1 - 0) F.C. Vilanova (Esp).  Ian Xuereb, Christian Debono u Jonathan Said (Pen.)

S/F.         Gozo 0 - 4 (0 - 3) F.C. Dubendorf (CH.)